POD 028 | Engaging Culture with Humility: Dr. Darrell Bock on Christian Love and Politics
Download MP3How do Christians navigate the complex arena of cultural engagement with grace and truth in today's polarized society? In this episode of theFormed.life, Dr. Darrell Bock shares his insights on reconciling the tenets of faith with the demands of compassionate societal governance. We’ll explore the virtues of humility and respect in our interactions, and the importance of distinguishing between those who pose a threat and those who contribute positively to our communities. Join us for a discussion that aims to equip believers with the tools for thoughtful, effective, and loving cultural engagement.
THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Compassionate, respectful approach to cultural engagement in a world of hostility and dogma, simply listening well without interjecting can win trust for a more fruitful conversation.
- Living out an authentic Christian faith that is positively engaging, inviting dialogue with humility and love rather than operating from a position of fear.
- The importance of listening to and understanding diverse cultural dynamics to foster meaningful, gospel-centered conversations within society.
#CulturalEngagement #CompassionateImmigration #ChristianLove #SpiritualDisciplines #EvangelicalismToday #RespectfulDialogue #LivingFaith #GospelHope #DrDarrellBock #theFormedLifePodcast
GUEST BIO:
Dr. Bock has earned recognition as a Humboldt Scholar (Tübingen University in Germany), is the author of over 40 books, including well-regarded commentaries on Luke and Acts and studies of the historical Jesus, and work in cultural engagement as host of the seminary's Table Podcasts. He was president of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) from 2000 to 2001, served as a consulting editor for Christianity Today, and serves on the boards of Wheaton College and Chosen People Ministries. His articles appear in leading publications. He is often an expert for the media on NT issues. Dr. Bock has been a New York Times best-selling author in nonfiction; serves as a staff consultant for Bent Tree Fellowship Church in Carrollton, TX; and is elder emeritus at Trinity Fellowship Church in Dallas. When traveling overseas, he will tune into the current game involving his favorite teams from Houston—live—even in the wee hours of the morning. Married for over 40 years to Sally, he is a proud father of two daughters and a son and is also a grandfather.
QUOTES:
"So cultural intelligence is how to walk into that mix and how to interact well with that mix. The real key in the book is talking about becoming a good listener and engaging with people in a way in which your concerns and, in some cases, your agenda might need to be set aside for a while just to establish the relational connection you need in order to have the challenging conversations that inevitably come up because the the plate tectonics are rubbing against each other and pressure could be building."
— Dr. Darrell Bock
"I'm talking about films that are made that really ask live questions and what people are struggling with and wrestling with. And if you keep your ear close to the ground, you can see that they're wrestling with the value of family or the importance of legacy or the importance of test, there are values that pop up, because even though, you know, theology says we're totally deprived, it doesn't mean that we're we're as bad as we could be. It just means that we're that we're messed up, that it's not aligned, that it's dysfunctional. But there are some things about who we are in our instincts that actually reflect having been made in the image of God and being responsive to people. And you're looking for those kinds of things."
— Dr. Darrell Bock
"But in the end, if you don't have something positive or something aspirational to move the person towards that takes them towards the gospel and the good news, all you've done is critique them."
— Dr. Darrell Bock
RESOURCES:
Cultural Intelligence: Living for God in a Diverse, Pluralistic World - Dr. Darrell L. Bock
Jesus according to Scripture: Restoring the Portrait from the Gospels - Dr. Darrell L. Bock
Recovering the Real Lost Gospel: Reclaiming the Gospel as Good News - Dr. Darrell L. Bock
KEYWORDS:
Darrell Bock, cultural engagement, compassion to foreigners, immigration policy, Christian love, global sports, spiritual warfare, evangelicalism, courtesy and respect, conservative engagement, understanding culture, doctrinal disagreements, distinctively Christian life, political discussions church, immigration, border security, respectful dialogue, cultural intelligence, diverse cultures, theology of cultural engagement, identity and purpose, Christian worldview, gospel hope, listening to art, common ground conversations, spiritual disciplines, living out faith, values of Christianity, plate tectonics metaphor, culture war model.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Christians and cultural engagement in today's world.
05:01 Understanding and engaging with diverse cultures.
09:54 Living out gospel, sharing hope with respect.
14:04 Christians should engage with cultural intelligence intentionally.
15:24 Understanding others requires a spiritual GPS reading.
19:49 Entertainment can ask live, important questions.
21:55 Promoting hope and goodness in Christianity's message.
25:16 Reflect on election impact, advice to pastors and individuals.
28:18 Political polarization undermines meaningful value-based conversations.
